Blocking Below the Waist
Clarifications – 2013
Revised 7/8/13
James D. Maconaghy
Coordinator of Football Officials
Blocking Below the Waist
Team A Requirements
9-1-6 Blocking Below The Waist
a. Team A prior to a change of team possession: Consider a low-blocking zone seven
yards on each side of the ball extending five yards beyond the neutral zone and back to
Team A’s end line. (Rule 2-3-7 and Appendix D)
1.
The following Team A players may legally block below the waist inside this zone
until the ball has left the zone: (a) players on the line of scrimmage completely within
this zone and (b) stationary backs who are at least partially inside the tackle box and
at least partially inside the frame of the body of the second lineman from the snapper.
2.
Players not covered in paragraph 1 (above) while the ball is still in the zone, and
ALL players after the ball has left the zone, are allowed to block below the waist only if
the force of the initial contact is from the front, but they may not block below the waist
if the force of the initial contact is from the side or back. “From the front” is understood
to mean within the clock-face region between
“10 o’clock and 2 o’clock” forward of
the player being blocked.
3. Once the ball has left the zone a player may not block below the waist toward his own
end line.
4. Players not covered in paragraph 1 (above) may not block below the waist toward the
original position of the ball at the snap.
Players and
players when ball has left zone
LOS
20
LOS
2
2
5
5
G
At the Snap:
Stationary Backs
Partially Inside
Tackle Box and
Partially Inside 2nd
Linemen are
unrestricted
LOW BLOCKING ZONE
20
5
30
40
• Must initiate contact between 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock
• May not block back toward own end line
TEAM A END ZONE
O
Blocking Below the Waist
Team B Requirements
9-1-6 Blocking Below The Waist
b. Team B prior to a change of team possession
1. Other than in paragraphs 2 and 3 below, Team B players may block
below the waist only within the area defined by lines parallel to the goal line
five yards beyond and behind the neutral zone extended to the sidelines.
Blocking below the waist by players of Team B outside this area is illegal.
2. Team B players may not block below the waist against an opponent who is
in position to receive a backward pass.
3. Team B players may not block below the waist against an eligible Team A
pass receiver beyond the neutral zone unless attempting to get to the ball or
ball carrier. This prohibition ends when a legal forward pass is no longer
possible by rule.
TEAM B RESTRICTIONS
30
40
FOUL
LEGAL
20
FOUL
LOS
20
LOS
G
TEAM A END ZONE
O